MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Recall referendum in Venezuela

The contentious process leading to a recall referendum on Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez mandate advanced another step. Jorge Rodriguez, one of the five members of the independent National Electoral Council, CNE, told the press in Caracas this Tuesday that the training of staff for the task of ratifying or annulling signatures has begun.

"We're advancing rapidly and staff should be ready for the signature sorting process that is scheduled for May 27/31", said Mr. Rodriguez adding that the steps to follow by citizen signers will be "quiet simple".

"To confirm or annul their signatures people will only have to appear at their voting precincts and show their national ID cards, with no explanations whatsoever required".

Of the total number of pro-recall signatures gathered by the opposition Democratic Coordinating Coalition in November 2003, 1,910,965 have been accepted as valid indicated Mr. Rodríguez. However 1,192,914 signatures described as "dubious" will require confirmation from the original signers and for this purpose staff is being trained.

According to the Venezuelan constitution the Democratic Coalition needs a total of 2,436,083 valid signatures, 20% of the electorate roll, for the recall referendum to be convened. Should the signatures be sufficient, the CNE will schedule a referendum for August 8.

Electoral analysts estimate that by July 5, Venezuela Independence Day, the CNE should have quiet a good idea if the Democratic Coalition goal will be achieved and a definitive decision on the referendum will be made.

Members of the Democratic Coordination, including Social-democrat Acción Democrática feel confident that the required number of signatures, with the sorting process, will be amply achieved.

The grass-root group "Sumate" that provides technical support to the Democratic Coordination Coalition said that the CNE data base for the confirmation process "is well-organized, sound and consistent."

President Chavez supporters insist many of the "dubious" signatures are fraudulent and predict the recall effort will fail.